Payroll Operations Specialist

Mercury•Portland, OR

2d•$77,000 - $96,200

About The Position

The Payroll Operations Specialist supports the administrative and compliance foundation that enables customers to operate across state jurisdictions. You'll manage payroll tax registrations, agency accounts, foreign qualifications, tax correspondence, unemployment claims, and other compliance-related services while partnering closely with Payroll Operations, Customer Support, Implementation, Benefits, external vendors, and state agencies to deliver an exceptional customer experience.

Requirements

Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent written communication and customer service skills.
Comfortable researching regulations and navigating government agency websites.
Ability to work independently while collaborating across cross-functional teams.
2–3 years of experience in payroll operations, payroll tax registrations, compliance, Secretary of State filings, or other regulatory or administrative operations is preferred.

Nice To Haves

You enjoy solving operational and compliance challenges from start to finish.
You take ownership and follow through on complex administrative work.
You're comfortable communicating with customers, government agencies, and external partners.
You proactively identify process improvements and leverage automation to increase efficiency.
You thrive in a high-growth environment where accuracy, adaptability, and continuous improvement are essential.

Responsibilities

Register employers with state and local payroll tax agencies and manage agency accounts, credentials, and ongoing maintenance.
Research state compliance requirements and coordinate directly with government agencies to resolve registration and account issues.
Process and maintain foreign qualifications, including filings, renewals, withdrawals, and vendor coordination.
Review and route tax notices, respond to unemployment claims, and manage other compliance-related administrative requests.
Coordinate additional client services, including California Statement of Information filings, agency payment research, and check processing.
Maintain accurate documentation, update internal systems, and identify opportunities to improve operational processes through automation and scalable workflows.